Srinagar, Dec 29: The heavy export of walnuts from Afghanistan, China, Californian, and Chile to Indian markets has affected Kashmir’s walnut industry and its growers, Walnut Growers Association said while appealing the Union Government to intervene in the matter.
Farmers associated with walnut said over the past many years the walnut rates have declined despite the hard work invested by farmers leading up to the harvest.
President Kashmir Walnut Growers Association, Haji Bahadur Khan said that many countries are sending their walnut produce to India many of which send it without any import duty which has severely affected the valley’s walnut industry.
“The bulk import of walnuts from Afghanistan to India which is facilitated by the free trade agreement has been affecting the domestic walnut industry,” he said. He said that despite the fact that Kashmiri walnuts were organic, these do not fetch good prices in the markets.
The president appealed to the government to exclude walnuts from GST and implement a uniform list for all the walnut varieties in Indian walnuts for the larger interest of growers.
“There is 60 percent of the population that is directly or indirectly dependent on the walnut industry. Most of the farmers hail from peripheries or rural areas and they do not get the exact prices of the produce,” he said.
The President said that there should be collaboration with walnut stakeholders in the national markets which can be helpful for the growers and farmers.
Ghulam Mohd, a farmer from Budgam said some ten years back the villages would remain abuzz with the walnut businessmen but over the years they don’t prefer to go to villages due to slashed prices.
“Our crop is natural and organic but despite that we do not get the expected prices. The harvesting stage is laborious and we hardly manage the expenses,” he said.
A senior official of Horticulture Department Kashmir said that the department has been working to push the walnut industry further and started various interventions in this endeavour.
“Under HADP, we will be importing Chandelier plant material which could be pruned as well. These high-density plants would be planted 30 in one kanal of land. Our traditional varieties are not grafted and walnuts do not match in size,” he said.
